Islamabad: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday submitted statements of three witnesses in the Supreme Court in connection with the Haj corruption case.
A larger bench of the SC headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing the suo moto case of Hajj scam.
The witnesses in their statements leveled serious allegations of corruption in Haj affairs 2009 against former state minister for religious affairs Shagufta Jumani.
The witnesses included former Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia Umer Sher Zai, Abid Muneer and Naseer.
Muneer alleged that 20 Riyal commission per Haji had to be recived by Shahgufta Jumani in Haj operation.
Former Haj Director in Saudi Arabia Rao Shakeel, a key accused in Haj corruption scandal 2010, told court that the Hajis who performed Haj on government expenses were not normal Hajis, adding that he was first inform that 20 Hajis were coming free of cost and later a plane of such Hajis was sent to Saudi Arabia.
Ex ambassador Umer Sher Zai said that Rao Shakil had started corrupt practices soon after assuming charge of the post.
Chief Justice in his remarks said that nobody was beyond the law and the FIA should show its expertise in the investigation as the unscrupulous elements in Haj scam could be brought to justice.
He remarked that there should be zero tolerance for corruption in Pakistan.
He observed that money had yet not been recovered in Haj scam.
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